Lock nut and blank therefor



June 19, 1945. J wEs| EY 2,378,610

LOCK NUT AND BLANK THEREFOR Filed April 6, 1943 MMZ. L /////////Ammn% INVENTOR 1502/. h/fszfy ATTORNEY Patented June 19, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOCK AND BLANK THEREFOR Leo J. Wesley, Roselle Park, N. J., assignor to Elastic Stop Nut Corporation of America, a corporation of New Jersey Application April 6, 1943, Serial No. 481,966

4 Claims.

This invention relates to nuts or the like, and particularly to anchor nuts of a type used extensively in aircraft and the like, wherein high strength and light weight are factors of great importance. This invention particularly relates to self-locking nuts, such as the type provided with a locking insert or washer in accordance with U. S. Patents 1,550,282 and 1,729,013. The insert or washer, referably formed of fiber or the like, locks the nut and bolt or screw securely against loosening through vibration. It is generally accepted that the fiber keeps the nut and bolt threads seated against each other on the load sides, so that the coeflicient of friction between the threads on the engaged load sides prevents relative rotation of the nut and bolt.

The general object of this invention is to provide an improved fastening device, specifically a nut, and blank therefor, of the character described in which more effective fixing of the locking insertor washer in the nut body is eifected and in which improved provision is made for insertion and clamping of the insert in the nut body without damaging the threads adjacent to the insert. For a better understanding of the manner in which the above general object and other and more detailed objects of the invention are obtained, reference may best be had to the ensuing portion of this specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top view of an anchor nut blank constructed in accordance with this invention, prior to tapping and placement of a locking washer in a well adapted to receive the same;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the nut blank of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the nut blank of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4'is across-section of a nut constructed in accordance with this invention, after the blank of Figs. 1 to 3 has been tapped and the locking washer assembled therein;

Fig. 5 is a cross-section of a portion of apparatus useful in making a nut in accordance with this invention; and

Figs. 6 and 7 are top and partial side views. respectively, of a punch utilized in the apparatus of Fig. 5.

As in Figs. 1 to 3, the nut blank comprises a base B provided with rivet holes 9; a cylindrical neck N extending laterally from thebase B and having a'bore I0 adapted to be tapped to form threads ll of-Fig. 4; and a locking insert or washer receiving well W, having sides 12 adapted to be closed over onto a washer l3, as in Fig. 4. The nut blank is preferably made of sheet metal or the like, by a series of stamping operations. In one series of operations, a circular blank is punched from sheet metal stock. The neck N and washer well W are formed by first producing a central shallow bulge of relatively large diameter, then decreasing the diameter of the bulge and increasing its depth, in successive steps, until a relatively long cylindrical protuberance is produced. The end of the protuberance is then punched out, after which the sides are flared, in successive steps, to produce the washer well. The rivet holes are then pierced and the waste metal trimmed from the base. It will be understood, of course,*that the blank-may be made in :other ways or by a differentseries. of steps.

In the embodiment illustrated the base B is substantially thicker adjacent neck N, as at section l4, than at points removed therefrom; also, section l4 of base B may, be thicker than any other section of the nut. This construction is advantageous for increasing the tensile or pull test strength of an anchornut of the kind disclosed but forms no part of the present invention, being disclosed and claimed in the application of Veyne V. Mason, Serial No. 480,140, filed March 23, 1943.

In accordance with one phase of this invention, thewasher well W is provided with a seat 16 and a plurality of projections ll, which projections are adapted to bite or sink into the washer and prevent the same from turning. The projections may be formed in a manner described later in connection with Figs. 5 to 7, inclusive, but

it is suflicient here to state that the number of projections is maintained above a predetermined minimum which reduces the amount of material between each pair of projections sufiiciently to reduce tool breakage in forming the projections. As shown, there are eight projections, but it will be understood that the number may ;be varied.

As is evident from Fig. 4, the sides of the washer well, when crimped over onto the washer, are bent inwardly to exert lateral pressure against the washer, as disclosed and claimed in U. S. Patent No. 2,153,681.

In accordance with another phase of this invention, a cylindrical lip l8 and a bevel [9 are provided between bore I0 of neck N and seat It of the washer well. The extent of bevel I9 need not be great, since a considerable portion thereof is cut away or forms part of the top thread. Lip l8 and bevel l9 cooperate to substantially efl'ectively prevent the washer from smashing down the top screw thread. It is desirable that the threads extend as close as possible to the washer well, to provide the greatest amount of thread strength, but when the threads extend relatively close to the seat, without the bevel or lip. t e top thread tends to be smashed down by the washer during the closing operation. A smashed thread will strip the plating from a bolt or screw, thus increasing the danger of corrosion. Obviously. screws and bolts utilized to hold essential parts of lanes together can not be stripped of protective plating with impunity.

Lip I8 is not only particularly effective in conjunction with bevel 19 for the above purpose, but the lip also reduces the amount of metal to be displaced when the projections are formed, thus further assisting in reducing tool breakage.

As stated previously. he nut blank may be made from sheet metal or the like, by a series of stamping operations, in which a circular blank is first provided with a centrally disposed, relatively long, cylindrical projection, and the open end of the projection is then flared to produce the washer well. In one form of machine, the blank is moved from station to station by a series of horizontally movable fingers which grip the blank on each side, there being a pair of fingers for transferring the blank from each station to the next, At each station, the blank is pushed out of the fingers into a die below by a vertically moving punch and, after punching, the blank is returned to the fingers by a knockout pin coming up through the die from beneath.

In accordance with this invention, the projections I'I may be produced by an improved swaging or unching operation, while the washer well is being flared, such as by the punch and die arrangement shown in Fig. 5. In this arrangement, an upper punch 2|, having a pilot 22 adapted to enter the bore of the blank and center the same, pushes the blank out of the conveying fingers (not shown) and against the upper surface of spring-supported jaws 23, which at that time are open to admit the washer well projection. As the jaws are pushed downwardly by punch 2|, they are moved inwardly :by tapered camming surfaces to close and g ip the blank about the neck N, thereby to provide support for both the projection forming operation and shaping of the washer well. Then, a punch P is pushed upwardly to form seat It, projections l1, rim l8, and bevel l9 of the nut blank and shape the side walls of the washer well against the jaws. During this time, the fingers are moving back for another blank, and after the forming operation is concluded, upper punch 2| and pilot 22 are withdrawn, to permit the jaws to rise and separate, while punch P is moved further upwardly to push the blank back up into the relaying fingers. As unch P is lowered, to be ready for the next blank, the fingers are moving the blank to the subsequent station, while the previous set of fingers is moving up the next blank.

Punch -P may be specially constructed to carry out the method of this invention, and, for this purpose, as in Figs. 6 and "l, is provided with a frusto-conical apex 25, having a fiat 28 at the top. Surrounding apex 25 are a cylindrical lip 21 and an annular rim 28, while a plurality of equally spaced slots 29 are disposed about the rim. Slots 29 preferably are formed by a milling cutter which produces a semi-circular bottom as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, though the slots may be formed instead by a broaching or forging operation to produce an angular bottom and projections of the form shown in Figs. 1-3. It will be evident that apex 25 produces bevel i9, while lip 2i and rim 28 form lip I8 and seat It, respectively, the

metal flowing into slots 29 to form projections H of the nut blank of Figs. 1-3. In addition, the punch is provided with a shoulder 30 adapted to establish the height of the side walls l2 of the washer well. For easier withdrawal, the punch tapers slightly between rim 28 and shoulder 30, as shown.

Ordinarily, considerable difliculty with tool breakage is experienced due to the sharp comers of rim 28 on each side of a. slot 29 breaking off. However, by this invention, such tendency for tool breakage is greatly minimized since the distance and amount of metal forced to flow in producing seat It and projections I1 is decreased sufficiently to reduce the localized stresses on the corners of the slots to a safe working stress. This is accomplished by increasing the number of equally spaced projections to reduce the distance metal is forced to flow laterally into slots 29 and by the provision of lip i8, into which flows metal displaced informing seat It. As shown, there are eight slots 29, to correspond with the number of projections in the nut blank, but this number may be varied as desired, in accordance with the ease of punching and tendency for tool breakage, determined by the size and particularly the material of which the blank and tool are formed, and condition thereof. Also the relative sizes of the seat l6 and lip l8, as well as the amount of material in projections ll are factors to be considered. As an example, but not in limitation of this invention, eight projections are used in a blank wherein the washer well has a diameter of slightly over inch, and a height of slightly over inch, the bore having a diameter of slightly over inch and the nut blank having an overall height of slightly under inch.

The specific form of punch P need not be followed, inasmuch as it may be found desirable to provide different sizes and/or configurations for the projections, as well as difi'erent sizes of and/or relationship of sizes between seat I6 and lip it. Also, the form of slots 29 may vary widely, although, in general, as deep a slot as practicable is desirable, since a deeper slot produces a higher projection which will penetrate further into the washer and thus provide a greater resistance to turning.

Although this invention has been explained in connection with an anchor nut adapted to be utilized in fastening parts of an airplane or the like together, it will be understood that the principles thereof are applicable to many types of nuts, fittings, and other fastening elements, and that the configuration of the nut may vary considerably. It will also be understood that other and various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Certain novel features of the method disclosed but not claimed herein form the claimed subject matter of my divisional application Serial No. 563,841, filed November 17, 1944.

What is claimed is:

l. A nut blank comprising a body providing a cylindrical bore for threading and an open insert receiving well axially aligned with said bore adjacent one end thereof, said well having a. seat for said insert, a bevel at the end of said bore tapering outwardly toward said seat and a relatively short axially extending lip or section joining the outer periphery of said bevel and the perimeter of the opening through said seat.

2. A nut blank comprising a body providing an insert receiving well having a seat and a dinerential 'bore extending downwardly from the center of said seat through said body, said bore comprising a relatively hort cylindrical section adjoining said seat, a substantially longer section aligned therewith and or smaller diameter, and a beveled portion joining said sections, the relation of the diameters of said sections being such that a thread formed in said longer section will terminate in said beveled portion and leave the shorter section unthreaded.

3. A self-locking nut comprising a body providing a threaded bore and annaligned circular well of larger diameter adjacent to one end of the bore, an annular insert seated in said well, said insert having a bore of less diameter than that of the major diameter of the thread, a short cylindrical bore section adjoining and aligned with so tent the threaded bore and with the well, said section having a diameter less than that of the well and greater than that of the threaded bore and a bevel joining said section and the adjacent end of the threaded bore, the threads of said bore terminating in said bevel,

4. A nut blank comprising a body providing a bore for threading and an insert receiving well aligned with and of larger diameter than said bore, said well having a side wall and an annular seat against which said insert is adaptedto bottom, and a multiplicity of projections formed from the material 01' said body at the place of juncture between the side wall and the seat and projecting radially inwardly therefrom and adapted'to be imbedded in the outer peripheral portion only of said insert, said multiplicity of projections providing intervening seat portions for said insert of relatively short peripheral ex- LEO J. WESLEY. 

